Ore separator



May 22, 1923.

S. H. WHITNEY ORE SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 21 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 22, 1923.

S. H. WHITNEY ORE S E-PARATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21 1919 bwboz May 22, 1 923.

S. H. WHITNEY ORE SEPARATOR 4 Sheets-sheaf 5 Filed Oct. 21, 1919' May 22, 1923.

S. H. WHITNEY ORE SEPARATOR' Filed Oct 21-, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 22, W23.

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QTEPHEN H. WHITNEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASsIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH T0 ALBERT A. EDDIE, OF SAN FRANCISGO, CALKFORNIEA.

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Application filed October 21, 1919. Serial No. 332,223.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. WHIT- NEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ore Separators, of which the following is a specification.

It is the principal aim and object of the present invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character that is especially designed to separate platinum, osmiradiuu'i and gold from the silicate quartz and magnetic and chrome sands with which the heavier metals are usually associated and a in fact for separating various ore wherein the components have a different specific gravity, pressure means being employed and manually controlled for insuring of the raising of the light particles permitting of the heavy particles to fall into a separate container.

More particularly the present invention contemplates the provision of a device of the above mentioned character wherein a pressure cylinder is employed in which a regulated and predetermined quantity of water or air pressure may be maintained for acting on the lighter particles of ore which is deposited in the separating chamher for raising and forcing the lighter particles to a point remote from the device and at the same time permitting the heavier particles to be deposited in a container posi-. ,tioned beneath the supporting frame.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character wherein a magnetic wheel is employed to act in conjunction with the separating cylinder so as to attract metallic particles as they are raised upwardly by the pressure, while acting in conjunction with the wheel is a scraping blade for removing these particles so that they may be substantially deposited in a separate sure in the pressure cylinder and in the weighing chamber.

Among the other aims and objects of this invention may be recited the provision of a devlce of the character described with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction simple and the cost of production low and the efiiciency high.

()ther improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the descriptlon to follow, which for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention. Itis to be noted in this connection that minou changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle of operation of the various parts.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a transverse section taken res Similar'characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings there 'isprovided a support comprising a frame 1 supported by legs 2, the frame and the legs being formed of metal tubing, while supported within the frame is an'outer shell 3 which forms a pressure chamber 4 and this shell is desirably of an octagonal configuration and is formed of angle strips 5 in which are transparent panels 6 preferably of glass. A. cover 7 is mounted on the top of the shell 1 and is supported by the frame, and is formed with a central opening 8 for a purpose that will presently appear, while the bottom 9 is of a frusto-conical configuration and is formed with a tubular extension 10 for a purpose that will presently appear. Disposed through the opening 8 1n the cover 7 is a sectional inner shell generally desi nated 11 which forms a separating cham ber and preferably consists of an upper metallic section 12 which is formed at its upper edge with an exterior annular flange 13 and near its lower edge with' another exterior annular flange 14, while telescoped about the lower portion is a lower transparent section 15. The flange 14 is bolted or otherwise secured as at 16 to the upper surface of the cover so as to be supported thereby while the lower edge of the lower glass section 15 terminates-in spaced relation to the bottom of the pressure chamber.

Disposed over the projecting upper edge of the section 12 of the inner shell 11 is a hood or casing 17, the lower flanged edge 18 of which is bolted or otherwise secured to the annular flange 13 as at 19. Positioned concentrically within the separating chamber is a vertically arranged conducting tube 20, the upper flanged edge of which is,

secured as at 21 to the inner edge of an ore feeding pipe 22 which extends through the casing, as indicated. A vertical shaft 23 is journaled through the inner end of the pipe 22, the lower portion of the shaft being formed with a feed screw 24 which operates in the tube and has suspended as at 25 from the lower end an inverted conical agitator or deflector 26, preferably of reticulated structure. By this particular construction when the screw is rotated the mass of ore which passes through the pipe 22 is fed downwardly by the screw 24 and deposited on the deflector or agitator 26 so as to be subject to the pressure within the weighing chamber and will hereinafter become apparent,

In order to maintain an equal pressure in the pressure chamber or tank 4, a pressure supply pipe 27 is led to one side of the top and is bent into an annular configuration, as indicated by the numeral 28 andv is provided with a series of perforations 29 through which the air or water passes.-

A manua 1y operable valve 30 controls the passage of the water or air through this pipe. Leading from one side of the hood or casing 17 is an outlet or discharge pi e 31, one section 32 of which has a manually operable valve 33 interposed therein for regulating the flow. A pressure gage 34 is mounted on the cover to indicate the ressure of air or liquid within the tan or chamber 4. In operation the valves 30 and 33 being set as desired air or water is directed through the perforations 29 in the nozzle so as to produce an equal distribution in the tank 4. In this tank air or water is forced upwardly through the weighing chamber to act upon the ore which is fed into the chamber by the screw 24, the deflector actin to scatter the ore so that the lighter particles will be carried upwardly under pressure and forced through the pipe 31, while the heavier particles will be deposited into a receiving container 35 detachably secured to the tubular extension 10. The receiving container 35 is of the peculiar shape shown and on the interior is provided with a diagonally disposed or inclined late 35 which serves to divide the contalner into two compartments, communication between which is effected through an opening 35 made by formin the plate short at its lower end. Attache to the container and communicating with tube 37 directed upwardly in a diagonal plane. of the container and also connected with the lower compartment there is a pipe 36 provided with a control valve 38 by means of which water under pressure is admitted to. the lower compartment to discharge, the deposits therein through the pipe 37. The deposits from the apparatus are admitted through the tubular extension to the upper compartment and gravitate along the plate or partition 35* then drop through the opening 35 into the lower compartment from which they are discharged through the pipe 37 by means of the fiuid under pressure admitted to the lower compartment. At its lower extremity the container 35 is pro-- vided with a drain cook 38* and the pipe 36 is similarly provided, being equipped with a drain cook 38.

In order to remove metallic particles from the ore a magnetic wheel 39 is "ournaled on the shaft 40 and is positions within the enlargement in the hood or casing 17 and also at a point near the discharge pipe 31 so that the wheel will attract the metallic particles and 'as the wheel rotates they will be removed therefrom by means of the On the diametrically opposite side ing separated.

rescues hood and is positioned in close relation with theperiphcry of the wheel. The metallic particles, of course, may be deposited in a suitable container, not shown. In order that the wheel may be rotated simultaneously with the actuation of the screw 24 a beveled gear 42 is mounted on the shaft and meshes with another beveled gear -13 carried by the upper end of the shaft 23.

As intimated, improved means have been provided for utilizing the air or water uudcr pressure as it passes through the discharge pipe for actuating the magnetic wheel and screw. In reducing this feature of the invention to practice a motor generally indicated by the numeral 44 is employed and consists of a casing 4 5 which is formed with one section of the piping 31, while rotatively mounted within the casing is a rotor 46, the blades 47 of which are impacted by the water or air passing through the discharge pipe to rotate the rotor. A. pulley wheel 48 is carried by the shaft 49 of the rotor, while operating over this pulley wheel is a belt 50 which. is also trained about another pulley wheel 51 mounted on a projecting end of the shaft 40 and by this arrangement it is apparent that rotary motion will be transmitted from the rotor shaft 49 to the shaft 40 by the transmitting belt to consequently assure of the magnetic wheel and feed screw operating simultaneously with each other. i

In connection with the foregoing it is to be observed that the construction illustrated particularly designed for use when water under pressure is employed for separating purposes. However, the device is also designed to be used when air is used under pressure and when dry substances are be- In accomplishing the latter purpose it has been found necessary to employ additional means for assuring of the maintenance of an equal pressure within the tank. In the resent instance instead of arranging the cod pipe 22 in the manner illustrated, a feed pipe 52 is connected to the hopper extension 53 of a hood 54, the base flange 55 of which is secured to the base flange 21 of the inner shell and which surrounds the feed screw. This construction prevents the escape of air as the material in the hopper extension serves as a suitable plug and assures of the air passing throu h the outlet or discharge pipe, the construction being illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawin s.

The mode of operation of the present invention may be reviewed as follows Assuming that the parts have been assembled in the manner described and as indicated in Figure 1, the valves 30 and 33 are adjusted to regulate the pressure of water or air through the nozzle 29 which latter assures of the maintenance of an equal pressure-within the tank 4. The air or water passes up through the separating chamber provided by the inner shell and acts upon the lighter particles so as to lift them upwardly and force them through the discharge pipe under pressure. The pressure is utilized to actuate the motor by reason of the motion transmitting belt 50. It is apparent that rotary motion is imparted to the wheel which attracts the metallic substances, and also to the feed screw so that these parts will operate simultaneously, the feed screw serving to force the mass of ore into the separating chamber and this ore is deflected or scraped by the deflector or agitator which is suspended from the lower end of the screw when positioned within the separating chamber. The valves are so )posed to be adjusted so that the heavier substances such as gold and platinum which have a higher specific gravity will fall down and bedeposited in the receptacle 35 and. thence discharged therefrom in the manner hereinbefore described. The scraping blade 41 acts to remove metallic particles from gold and platinum ore, while the pressure gauge lndicates the pressure of the ore or liquid in the tank.

What is claimed is l. A device of the character described including a support, a pressure support mounted in the tank, a pressure supply pipe leading to the tank, a cylinder disposed concentrically within the tank and providin a separating chamber, a conducting tube isposed concentrically within the chamber, a rotatably mounted feedin screw disposed through the tube, a conical deflector loosely suspended from the lower end of the screw and positioned within the chamber, an outlet conducting pipe leading from the separating chamber, means mounted at the top of the chamber near the outlet for removing metallic particles from the ore, and means at the bottom ofthe tank for receiving heavy particles.

2. A device of the character described including a support, a pressure tank mounted therein, a cover therefor and a central opening therein, a cylinder disposed through the opening in the cover and having the lower edge terminating short of the bottom of the tank providing a separating chamber, a hood for the cylinder, 9. tube disposed concentrically within the chamber, a rotatably mounted feed screw disposed in the tube, a deflector loosely suspended from the lower end of the feed screw and positioned within the chamber, an inlet supply pipe leading to the tank, a nozzle at the inner end of the pipe arranged in surrounding relation with the separating chamber, means for regulating the admission of pressure to the tank, an outlet conducting plpe leading from the chamber and through. which light particles pass, receiving means at the bottom of the tank for accommodating heavy particles, means in the hood near the outlet conducting pipe for separating metallic particles from the ore, and means for regulating the exhausting of pressure from the tank.

3. An apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising a pressure tank, a cylinder V; disposed within the same and constituting] a separatin chamber, a conducting tube disposed wit in sai weighing chamber and provided with inlet means at its upper end, a feed screw rotatably mounted in the conductin tube to feed the ore entering the latter ownwardly into the separating chamber, means for admitting fluid under ressure to the tank and to the separating 0 amber to force the ore received thereinto upwardly through the latter, the separating chamber having a discharge means at its upper end, and means at the bottom of the tank for receiving heav particles.

4. An apparatus for t e purpose indicated comprising a pressure tank, a cylinder mounted 1n the pressure tank and constituting a separatin chamber. a conducting tube disposed within the weighing chamber, a screw rotatably mounted in the conducting tube and having a conical deflector at its lower extremity, ore inlet and outlet means respectively for the conducting tube and the separating chamber, and means carried at the bottom of the tank to receive heavy particles.

5 An apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising a tank provided with a separating chamber and ore feeding means for the separating chamber, fluid pressure supply means connected with the tank to exert an upward ressure in the separating chamber, inlet and outlet means respectively for the conducting tube and the separating chamber, the tank having a conical bottom whose walls are disposed. in downwardly converging relation and terminate at the lower extremity in a tubular extension, a receiving container detachably secured to said tubular extension, and fluid pressure means connected with said receiving con tainer to drive heavy particles therefrom to a point of collection.

6. An apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising a tank provided with a separating chamber and ore feeding means for the separating chamber, fluid pressure supply means connected with the tank to exert an upward pressure in the separatin chamber, inlet and outlet means respective y for the conducting tube and the separating chamber,

the tank having a conical bottom whose lower compartment of the container adjacent the opening insaid plate and a discharge means for said compartment disposed at a diametrically opposite point from the pressure supply means.

7 An apparatus for the purpose indicated comprising a tank having ore inlet and discharge means and means for separating the I lighter particles from the contained ore, the tank having a conical bottom whose walls are disposed in downwardly convergent relation, a receiving container detachably secured to the apex of said conical bottom and interiorly divided by an inclined plate defining two compartments between which communication is effected through an opening at the lower edge of the plate whereb deposits in the container gravitate throng the opening of said late to reach the lower compartment, a flui pressure supply means communicating with the lower part of the container adjacent the opening in said plate and discharge means for said compartment disposed at a diametrically oppositepoint from the pressure supply means.

In testimon whereof I afiix m signature.

TEPHEN H. W ITNEY. 

